PARA SU COMUNICACION INMEDIATA
 
Jodi Dittell
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
(407) 836–1440; jodi.dittell@ocfl.net 
Sitio Web: www.ocfl.net/epd

Orlando, FL -- You may have heard that Orange County recently “flipped the switch” on a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Orange County Convention Center -- the largest rooftop PV system in the southeast!  Did you also know that you can see real-time data showing the electricity being generated by the Sun and the PV system?  It's easy!  Visit Orange County’s Orange to Green website www.ocfl.net/OrangeToGreen and click on the link that reads “Real-time PV system data," or the Convention Center’s website www.occc.net/Community/solar_project.asp and follow the “click here” link at the end of the article. 

The interactive website contains pictures, charts, and information showing the amount of power actually being generated, historical data, and environmental benefits.  Additional tabs show similar information about power generation from four additional research PV systems, and an explanation of how PV systems work.  While visiting either website, check out Orange County’s other green initiatives to see how the County is going from Orange to Green -- and how you can help.

The Convention Center’s one-megawatt solar PV array produces approximately 1,300 megawatt-hours of electricity annually.  That’s enough electricity to power approximately 100 homes for a year!  Capturing the Sun’s power allows the Orange County Convention Center to offset its carbon-footprint. The project was made possible through a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and partnerships between Orange County and the Orlando Utilities Commission, the Florida Solar Energy Center, and the Economic Development Council.

Don't have access to the Internet?  Head over to the Climate Change Education Center (CCEC) during major events at the Convention Center to use an interactive touch screen displaying the information, and view other great exhibits on climate change, energy conservation, electric vehicles, and more.  For more information on the interactive website, the PV system, the CCEC or its operating hours contact Jodi Dittell of EPD at (407) 836-1400.

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